Lightweight high-isolation material (acoustic meta-material)
A lightweight sound isolation material that offers a quiet cabin experience
Acoustic meta-material offers outstanding cabin quietness through the use of
lightweight high-isolation panels in a lattice structure with membranes.
System operation
A combination of a lattice structure and plastic film membrane controls air vibrations to limit the transmission of wide frequency band noise (500-1200Hz), such as road and engine noise. Currently, most materials used to isolate this frequency band consist mainly of heavy rubber board. Nissan’s new acoustic meta-material weighs one-fourth as much as these while providing the same degree of sound isolation.
Under 1000Hz, acoustic meta-material is highly effective in suppressing road noise and improving sound isolation, creating an enjoyable, in-cabin experience.
Making vehicles lighter helps limit the environmental impact of driving by improving energy efficiency. It also enhances enjoyment, as the quiet vehicle cabin makes driving more comfortable.
System mechanism
Acoustic meta-material manipulates the direction of acoustic noise, disrupting them in a way that results in sound (noise) suppression.
Acoustic noise is classified as air vibration. When acoustic noise contacts the meta-material, the meta-material reflects or bounces the noise back according to vibrations in the air. This effectively reduces the noise passing or absorbing through the material and into the cabin, according to physical law (mass law).